THE WIDTH EFFECT OF ELECTRODE IN THE FREEDERICKSZ TRANSITION OF NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

The Freedericksz transition of nematic liquid crystals with limited width of ele ctrode on substrates of the cell is investigated. Solving two-dimensional nonli near partial differential equations by means of numerical method, we obtained the sp ace distribution of the director of the liquid crystal. The threshold voltage is found to depend on the ratio of the electrode width l to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer d. The deflect angleθ of the director lapses near the edge of the electrode and the width of this lapsing area are discussed.